Cheaper motorbike imports worry U.S. experts

Roland Jones Business news editor • Profile • E-mail

With gasoline prices surging, motor scooters and small motorcycles are now the hottest things on two wheels. But with a flood of cheap bikes entering the U.S. market, experts warn that unwitting American consumers could soon find themselves taken for a ride.

Sales of scooters and other small motorbikes have been rising steadily over the past eight years, and they have accelerated over the last year or so as urban and suburbanite Americans have sought out cheaper ways to make quick trips and save on gasoline.

National statistics on recent scooter sales are not available, but an estimated 96,000 were sold in 2004, up from 25,000 in 1999 according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, a trade association. Motorcycle sales have been rising, too: An estimated 629,000 were sold in 2004, up from 354,000 in 1999 the association said.

These zippy rides certainly have their advantages. They are agile in city traffic, range in price from $1,000 to $6,000 and offer more cargo space than your average motorcycle. They also offer excellent gas mileage — sometimes as much as 100 miles per gallon.

But tempting as these rides may be, their growing popularity is leading some would-be bike riders astray, according to experts. Surging demand has led many manufacturers to import bikes as quickly and inexpensively as possible, and some U.S. businesses have imported vehicles that do not pass federal muster or meet emissions standards, they note.

These bikes cost far less than their law-abiding counterparts in the competitive U.S. market, and many of them are sold online, or through private importers, and they are so cheap they attract a novice consumer who is unlikely to know about scooters standards. Many U.S. consumers are left with non-roadworthy bikes and useless warranties.

“We’ve seen scooters for sale online that cost as little as $499, whereas an entry model from Yamaha or Honda will cost $1,700 or $1,800 and you know you’ll get authorized trained personnel available five or six days a week to help you with your bike,” said Tim Buche, president of the Motorcycle Industry Council. “So we understand the consumer is searching for a low price, but they’re not buying value.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warned that strong interest among U.S. consumers for small motorcycles, marketed as scooters and dirt bikes, was leading some U.S. businesses have imported vehicles that do not meet basic emissions standards. The agency said it was working with border protection agents to tackle the illegal import problem at the door, investigating imports and distributors of scooter-type bikes.

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